Dave
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Post by Dave on Mar 5, 2006 17:46:21 GMT
This is pretty off-topic but as an anniversary (which i witnessed!) of an important event I think it's within our guidelines. However, if anyone goes off into a long ramble about World War 2 or War in general, that post will probably be be off topic! Here's the link. and a short extract from the story follows: I have just had the great pleasure of witnessing this fly-past at first hand as the 5 Spitfires flew directly over my head at 700 feet - that's CLOSE!!! What a superb plane this is to look at - not to mention its magnificent performance in the Battle of Britain where and when it helped in no small way to prevent an imminent invasion of the UK. Being so close under the fly-past has disadvantages! I was completely unable to focus my camera on the planes as they whizzed overhead and disappeared behind trees.  However, I was able to photograph them blurrily from a mile or so distance, as they made their return trip above Hamble airfield - across the other side of the River Hamble from me. And I was standing only two miles from where I live!  Blurry Photos next... Dave |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Mar 5, 2006 17:57:00 GMT
Here are two photos of the small group of Spitfires as they flew back towards Southampton in a NW direction up Southampton Water. They were above the town and airfield of Hamble, across the river Hamble from where I was standing (at Warsash boatyard). Hamble was a Spitfire repair base in World War II and 4 miles further on, they will have flown over Woolston (Southampton) where they were first built. Far better photos than these will appear on TV and in the press later today. But I was there! Spitfires to Southampton! |
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Post by fusilier23 on Mar 5, 2006 19:28:21 GMT
Hehe, Zoooooooooom!
I got to see a few of these up close a couple of years ago in Reading, PA, where they do World War II weekend each year. The Spitfire is certainly an important piece of history, though it's by no means the plane that won the Battle of Britain, lest we push the Hurricane aside.
Hopefully the weather will cooperate this year and I can send you a few pics to tack on here.
As for a long rant about World War II, well, the Spitfire is really just about the Battle of Britain, "the finest hour." I leave it to anyone else to build on that.
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Post by davesurrey on Mar 5, 2006 20:58:59 GMT
I think that the Spitfire is truly a great British historical icon like Stonehenge, the Bayeux Tapestry and the Magna Carta and alongside radar, help to defeat the German Luftwaffe, Messerschmitt and Stuka's.
But I also think that the Lancaster bomber helped in the latter years of the war in the dam buster raids.
David
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Post by stevemacdonald on Mar 5, 2006 21:16:25 GMT
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Post by Andrew on Mar 5, 2006 21:49:14 GMT
Hi All, 'Leaving on a Prop Plane' Talking of Spitfires, I've always wanted one of my own, so I'm building one of those 'Deagostini' radio-controlled models, which BBC Watchdog referred to as "deathtraps". These models are only potentially dangerous though if not operated under due care and attention by an experienced radio-controller in the appropriate location (a specified model flying club). There's a flying club close to where I live and I've had a bit of experience with some light aircraft. My co-ordination isn't too bad really (!) I'm told the model Spitfire could be a bit tricky to manoeuvre though and prone to stalling if one isn't careful!  Is anyone else interested in radio-controlled aircraft? I subscribed to 2 copies of the magazine from the 1st issue in January 2005 and have just bought Part 52 (there are 60 parts in total). The magazine is frightfully expensive, but also fantastic- so the expression,"suffering for one's art" springs to mind! Why 2 copies? Well initially my Dad and I were going to build one each and have a mock "dogfight", but now I've decided to build one for flying and one for display purposes only (I couldn't face crashing them both). The model design is stunning, with amazing close attention to detail. When the flying model has been completed, I'm going to name her, "Hayley". I'm currently designing a text transfer of "Hayley" in white brush script to place on each side of the Spitfire nose cone.  I promise to post up some photos of "Hayley" in flight! Heh-Heh! Look to the skies! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifAndrew |
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Post by fusilier23 on Mar 6, 2006 2:59:46 GMT
Or you could transfer some full-length pics of Hayley to the nose of a Lancaster like the Americans did with pics of Betty Grable on their bombers.
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Joe
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Post by Joe on Mar 6, 2006 3:42:40 GMT
Thanks for sharing this event with us, Dave. This re-enactment must have been a sight to see! The Spitfires' agility coupled with the Hurricane's air superiority helped to win the Battle of Britain.
Coincidentally, I was also taking pics of airplanes flying overhead. It was a sunny day here in PA and many planes were in the sky.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Mar 7, 2006 4:13:43 GMT
There were a couple of nice reports on my local TV stations about the Spitfire anniversary fly past and now, I have the piccies that I was too slow to get (taken by the BBC and a couple of their viewers). I've uploaded one of the the short video reports here (9MB!) - I'll leave it up as long as I can but within a week or two, I will have to remove it due to lack of personal webspace. Here are a couple of the "missing" Spitfire photos - taken by BBC viewers, they are high res stills taken from the source video and they give a good idea of what I saw - although I could of course see the detail that the silhouetted screenshots missed. I may post a few more tomorrow...  |
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Post by Andrew on Apr 16, 2006 23:44:14 GMT
Hi All, Here are some photographs of a prototype radio controlled Spitfire. I am in the process of building 2 more radio controlled flying model Spitfires, which I am naming, "Hayley MkI" and "Hayley MkII" after our own favourite and very inspirational singer! Both of the finished models will be suitable for flying, but will be customised versions of the original model specification, in terms of mechanical functions and aesthetics - attention to detail in the finish. The protoype includes some experimental features and gadgets which are not included in the original specification of the model design, such as retractable landing gear (I can't understand why anyone would want to fly a Spitfire with the langing gear down unless they were... landing or taking off! ) The mechanism for operating the landing gear consists of a cam and some servos. Valuable research and experimentation at this stage should pay off for successful test flights of "Hayley MkI" and "Hayley MkII". i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifI will keep you posted on the building progress... Regards, Andrew |
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Joe
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Post by Joe on Apr 17, 2006 2:24:45 GMT
Hi Andrew, I've seen some of the Deagostini model aeroplane kits on eBay, where each issue can cost 2 to 4 quid. I rather like their Enhancing Mind Body Spirit partwork, which I collect from a company in the states. Congrats on nearly completing all 60 issues! Oh, but it's worth it! Look at the details...it's incredible! Good luck in your test flights and fitting the landing gear and prop. You can always get Dave to take some pics when you test-fly them!  God Bless, Joe |
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Post by fusilier23 on May 20, 2006 15:35:24 GMT
2 more weeks and I think I should have pics of the real deal, up close and personal.
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Post by Andrew on May 21, 2006 8:57:46 GMT
2 more weeks and I think I should have pics of the real deal, up close and personal. Hi fusilier23! I can't wait for that! Regards, Andrew |
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However, I was able to photograph them blurrily from a mile or so distance, as they made their return trip above Hamble airfield - across the other side of the River Hamble from me. And I was standing only two miles from where I live! 
